BILL NUMBER: AB 1123	CHAPTERED  09/18/00

	CHAPTER   467
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 18, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 15, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 24, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 22, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 7, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 12, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JUNE 1, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cardoza

                        FEBRUARY 25, 1999

   An act to  repeal and add Chapter 11.3 (commencing with Section
66940) of Part 40 of the Education Code, relating to distance
learning.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1123, Cardoza.  Distance learning:  the California Distance
Learning Policy.
   Existing law requires the California Postsecondary Education
Commission to develop a state policy on the use of distance learning
technology, as defined, in education, to be considered and, if
appropriate, adopted by the Legislature.  Existing law requires the
commission, in developing the policy, to address specified issues and
to compile research on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of
distance education at various levels of education.  Existing law
requires that the policy be developed to recognize the several
existing distance learning networks, to enhance their coordination
and direction, and to provide statewide incentives to build
partnerships that further distance learning, as specified.  Existing
law requires the commission, in developing the policy, (1) to propose
a strategy to provide the 5 types of educational services of
curriculum enhancement, expanded course offerings to rural and
inner-city secondary schools, expanded course offerings at rural
community colleges and off-campus centers, staff development courses
for elementary and secondary teachers, and curriculum enhancement
through the increased communication capability of schools, colleges,
and universities and (2) to draw upon the experience and findings of
the various campuses of the California State University that
currently offer courses via distance education.
   Existing law also requires the commission, in developing the
policy, to identify existing sources of interactive distance learning
instructional and staff development programming that can be utilized
immediately by schools and colleges and to propose a strategy to
utilize existing technologies to deliver instruction over distance,
and link together school and college classrooms in rural and
inner-city areas in the state.
   Existing law further requires the commission, in preparing the
policy statement, to consult with an advisory committee having
prescribed membership.
   This bill would repeal these provisions, and instead require the
commission to convene an intersegmental working group to determine
state funding priorities consistent with the institutional missions
of the segments of higher education.  The bill would specify
principles to be observed by the intersegmental working group in the
development of priorities and the proposed expenditure of state
revenue on technology infrastructure and applications.
   This bill would require the intersegmental working group to be
composed of representatives from public elementary and secondary
education, the California State University, the California Community
Colleges, the University of California, the independent accredited
universities and colleges, private sector providers of distance
learning services, the Office of the Secretary of Education, and the
private sector.
   The bill would require the commission to facilitate the
development of statewide funding priorities for technology in higher
education and to forward the recommendations of the intersegmental
working group to the Legislature and the Governor on or before August
1, 2002.
   Under existing law, these provisions would not be applicable to
the University of California unless made applicable to the university
by the Regents of the University of California by appropriate
resolution.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) and
other observers have estimated that a minimum of 714,000 additional
students, in excess of the number of those enrolled in 1998, will
need to be educated by California's colleges and universities by the
year 2010.
   (b) The nature of instruction and its delivery in postsecondary
education, as well as new informational technologies and other
related innovations, can provide promising education opportunities
for individuals who are currently not being served, particularly for
individuals without easy access to traditional campus-based
postsecondary education or for whom traditional courses are a poor
match with learning, education, or training needs.  Learners,
including students seeking basic or technical skills, initial
postsecondary education experience, and those limited by time and
place constraints, can benefit from nontraditional postsecondary
education opportunities and appropriate support services.
   (c) The need for high quality, nontraditional, technology-based
education opportunities is great, as is the need for measures of
educational progress and competency attainment that are valid and
widely accepted; the advancement of these measures of progress and
competency attainment will be more likely through the coordinated
efforts of agencies and institutions working with state assistance,
statewide coordination, and oversight.
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 11.3 (commencing with Section 66940) of Part 40 of
the Education Code is repealed.
  SEC. 3.  Chapter 11.3 (commencing with Section 66940) is added to
Part 40 of the Education Code, to read:

      CHAPTER 11.3.  THE CALIFORNIA DISTANCE LEARNING POLICY

   66940.  There is hereby established the California Distance
Learning Policy, which sets forth the guiding goal and principles for
the utilization of technology in California postsecondary education.

   66941.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that access to a
high quality education is the primary goal for the use of educational
technology in higher education.  All students in California's public
schools and colleges and all adults in the state shall have access
to educational opportunities for which they are qualified, regardless
of their income level, geographic location, or the size of the
school they attend.
   (b) Pursuant to its statutory planning and coordination functions
and responsibilities identified in Section 66900, the California
Postsecondary Education Commission shall convene an intersegmental
working group to determine state funding priorities consistent with
the institutional missions of the systems of higher education.
   (c) The intersegmental working group shall observe all of the
following principles to guide the development of priorities and the
proposed expenditure of state revenues on technology infrastructure
and applications:
   (1) Development of a statewide infrastructure that provides
compatible connectivity between all levels of education to reduce
redundancy and increase efficiency.
   (2) Adherence to nationally and internally accepted protocols and
standards.
   (3) Assurance that the standards for course and program quality
applied to distance education are rigorous in meeting accreditation
standards, Universal Design Standards, and standards currently
applied to traditional classroom instruction at higher educational
institutions in the areas of course content, student achievement
levels, and coherence of the curriculum.
   (4) Collaboration between the private sector and educational
institutions in the availability and use of technology in
low-performing schools and underserved areas.
   (5) Collaboration across departments, institutions, states, and
countries in the use of technology.
   (6) Use of technology to contain costs, improve student outcomes,
and enhance quality in instructional and noninstructional functions,
such as student services, libraries, and administrative support.
   (d) The intersegmental working group shall be composed of
representatives from public, elementary and secondary education, the
California State University, the California Community Colleges, the
University of California, independent accredited universities and
colleges, state approved schools and colleges, private sector
providers of distance education, the Office of the Secretary of
Education, and the private sector.
   (e) The commission shall facilitate the development of statewide
funding priorities for technology in higher education, and shall
forward the recommendations of the working group to the Legislature
and the Governor on or before August 1, 2002.
